What a really interesting gap. When she proclaimed herself, English Teacher, I was kind of like what? But thanks Elinor, it makes sense. It’s yet another reinforcement of how we are the Earth rotating around Sun capitalism.
“In 2016, Swift participated in Vogue’s YouTube channel series “73 Questions”, in which she answered rapid-fire questions. When asked what high school curriculum she’d teach, she answered English. But when asked what job she thinks she’d have if she hadn’t made it as a musician, she says she thinks she’d be good in advertising. This was interesting to me as the main association one has in pop culture with advertising is Mad Men — advertising is the ruthless, money-driven side of storytelling. An engagement announcement captioned “Don Draper is marrying Betty Hofstadt” does not bring up quite the warm feelings that the English teacher/the gym teacher do.”
Loved this essay! It has me wondering about the similarities between parasocial relationships and the phenomenon of teacher's pet. Is Tay employing English teacher aesthetics to engender Swifties to compete for the teacher's pet role, to not question or interrogate her output at all? But rather to comply and admire regardless of syllabus (discography)?
I am sincerely angry at myself for not including the concept of the teacher's pet in this essay! I think the swifties assign themselves that role but she def depends on it/encourages it. it bothered me a bit on Tortured Poets when she came out swinging in two songs 'Daddy I Love Him' and 'I Can Do It With a Broken Heart' at fans-- she really wants to have her cake and eat it too
“The power dynamic between a teacher and a student is an acceptable power dynamic, one with positive associations, whereas the power dynamic between a billionaire and the masses is a very negative and dangerous power dynamic— one which is coming under increasing scrutiny.” whewwwww this is the sentence i’ve been searching for but haven't been able to put into words myself!!! i’m truly curious if this is an explicit strategy of hers / her team, or one they felt intuitively but cant name. loved this one, elinor 🧡 (and yeah, that elizabeth taylor biography DID rule and i read it because of your review!)
thanks so much jane— our convos got me thinking deep! i am also very curious if this is a strategy (i lean yes bc what isn’t with her?). and i’m thrilled to have spread the gospel of ‘furious love’— a real page turner
What a really interesting gap. When she proclaimed herself, English Teacher, I was kind of like what? But thanks Elinor, it makes sense. It’s yet another reinforcement of how we are the Earth rotating around Sun capitalism.
“In 2016, Swift participated in Vogue’s YouTube channel series “73 Questions”, in which she answered rapid-fire questions. When asked what high school curriculum she’d teach, she answered English. But when asked what job she thinks she’d have if she hadn’t made it as a musician, she says she thinks she’d be good in advertising. This was interesting to me as the main association one has in pop culture with advertising is Mad Men — advertising is the ruthless, money-driven side of storytelling. An engagement announcement captioned “Don Draper is marrying Betty Hofstadt” does not bring up quite the warm feelings that the English teacher/the gym teacher do.”
thanks so much for reading! yes, the capitalist aspect of this cannot be overstated
this is super comprehensive and interesting, kind of demystified taylor swift to me, thank you Elinor!!!
this makes my day!
Loved this essay! It has me wondering about the similarities between parasocial relationships and the phenomenon of teacher's pet. Is Tay employing English teacher aesthetics to engender Swifties to compete for the teacher's pet role, to not question or interrogate her output at all? But rather to comply and admire regardless of syllabus (discography)?
I am sincerely angry at myself for not including the concept of the teacher's pet in this essay! I think the swifties assign themselves that role but she def depends on it/encourages it. it bothered me a bit on Tortured Poets when she came out swinging in two songs 'Daddy I Love Him' and 'I Can Do It With a Broken Heart' at fans-- she really wants to have her cake and eat it too
“The power dynamic between a teacher and a student is an acceptable power dynamic, one with positive associations, whereas the power dynamic between a billionaire and the masses is a very negative and dangerous power dynamic— one which is coming under increasing scrutiny.” whewwwww this is the sentence i’ve been searching for but haven't been able to put into words myself!!! i’m truly curious if this is an explicit strategy of hers / her team, or one they felt intuitively but cant name. loved this one, elinor 🧡 (and yeah, that elizabeth taylor biography DID rule and i read it because of your review!)
thanks so much jane— our convos got me thinking deep! i am also very curious if this is a strategy (i lean yes bc what isn’t with her?). and i’m thrilled to have spread the gospel of ‘furious love’— a real page turner
If school is compulsory, and Taylor’s our teacher…maybe the fantasy also goes that we’re mandated to engage with her *and* be assessed by her!
So fun chatting, Elinor. Let’s talk the cultural implications of school based archetypes any time 😭
i could def see how that would hella appeal to her lol. i'd chat culture with you anytime-- thanks again for sharing your excellent insights!